Reports have emerged in Italy that Juventus are irritated by their manager Maurizio Sarri’s refusal to stop smoking despite pneumonia.

The former Napoli and Chelsea tactician confessed recently he smoked “around 60 a day, probably a few too many.”

The tactician has been struggling for several weeks and, according to Football Italia, was eventually signed off by the club medic for the opening two Serie A games of the season.

He missed the trip to Parma, but there are rumours he has improved sufficiently to perhaps be there for the home debut against his old club Napoli.

However, the Corriere della Sera newspaper published a photograph of Sarri posing with a fan outside his home this week and he was clutching a pack of cigarettes.

It went viral and news agency Ansa claims it prompted “irritation” from the Juventus hierarchy.

Sarri has been going to the training ground in Turin every day, but watching sessions via videolink in a separate office rather than on the field.